Fabulous Fiber and Veggies Veggies are a very important component in The Sugar-Free Miracle™ Diet because they provide a natural source of fiber. Previously called "roughage," fiber is the indigestible part of a plant. The five "officially" recognized benefits of a fiber-rich diet are listed below. 1. Improvements in blood sugar management and insulin response. 2. Improvements in feelings of fullness or satiety and the ability to help curb appetite. 3. Improvements in digestion, the prevention of constipation, and the prevention of hemorrhoids. Some experts believe that fiber even reduces the absorption of some calories. 4. Reduction in the risk of developing some cancers. 5. Reduction in the risk of developing high cholesterol, hypertension, blood clots and other heart disease factors. Plus, there's mounting evidence that a diet rich in fiber may prevent diabetes. The American Dietetic Association recommends that adults consume between 25-35 grams of fiber each day. It's estimated that most people consume less than 50% of the fiber that's considered essential for good health. For example, the average woman only gets about 13 grams of fiber a day, and the average man only gets about 17 grams of fiber a day. An extremely low fiber consumption of 20%, which is a mere 5 grams of fiber per day, may be a direct factor in obesity.